Skoda Octavia

I spent and hour or so in the city on 31 October moving along George Street between Wynyard and Circular Quay. Tram testing and trailing, driver training and certification continues in earnest. Here's a record of the visit.

1205 (NJF 204W)

Bedford YMQ/Plaxton Supreme IV C45F

Arriva the Shires

Showbus, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, 26 September 1999

New to Lee & District, Chesham

Luton & District's takeover of London Country North West in 1990 also included the small Chesham-based Lee & District subsidiary acquired by LCNW the previous year. The only ex Lee & District vehicle to survive into the Arriva era was the oldest, NJF 204W having been withdrawn from passenger service in 1994 and converted into a driver trainer. Originally numbered LD1 in passenger service, it became trainer DT1 and then 1205 in the 1997 renumbering.

"You're up the driving school eight o'clock Monday, young man", said Albert Bratchell, the Lawrence Hill DTS (District Traffic Superintendant), hailing me from the doorway as I passed his office. "If you're still interested you'd better go over the employment office and tell 'em ...otherwise they'll give your place to someone else".

Mr Bratchell, a nice, mild-mannered man, had approached me one morning a couple of weeks before while I was bagging up my takings, and asked whether I would be willing to train as a driver. I protested that I had no driving experience of any sort. This didn't matter I was told. I should have a go and see how I got on. If I didn't pass this time, I could always have another crack at it later on. OMO was coming in, the Company had a chronic staff shortage and was crying out for conductors to train as drivers.

I was still interested, to the extent that I thought the driving school would be a good skive for two weeks, an enjoyable break from conducting and a bit of a lark. No one was more surprised than I when, two weeks later, after a shaky start and a failed "prelim" (which I was allowed to re-take two days later), I passed the test. The licence covered me for driving a car, of course. At the time there was, in the outside world, a six-month waiting list for driving tests ...and another six if you failed the first time.

"Crying out" or no, the employment office didn't exactly roll out the red carpet when I went over to make my intentions known.

"What driving experience have you had?"

"None", I replied cheerfully. Actually I had ridden a bicycle, but I didn't think it worth mentioning. Not answering, the Employment Officer, an old-school Company man, sucked his teeth, slowly shook his head and made a note. When I turned up at the school the following Monday I heard my instructor muttering, sotto voce to another that he had "copped another bloody novice".

The third day was spent in the classroom, where we watched a number of instructional films on one of the new-fangled video players. One was about Overhead Obstructions, and this bridge, outside Chelmsford Station, appeared as an example of an arched bridge which could be negotiated by double-deck buses only if they passed beneath the centre of the arch. The vehicle is a Gardner-engined FLF Lodekka, new to Eastern National in January 1966. The photograph was taken on Tuesday 15th March 1977.

Walsall Corporation 342 NDH959 a 1951 Sunbeam F4 trolleybus with Brush body, lengthened and modernised by the operator. It is seen on driver training duties with standard L-plate in windscreen, on the short working loop entering Bloxwich High Street on 8 September 1969.

Arriva Northern 331107, seen about to leave Doncaster Interchange while working a driver training run to Wakefield Wrenthorpe sidings. This is one of the 43 brand new CAF 331 Civity units that will be entering into service shortly.

I spent and hour or so in the city on 31 October moving along George Street between Wynyard and Circular Quay. Tram testing and trailing, driver training and certification continues in earnest. Here's a record of the visit.

Chinatown ...

Shots taken in Chinatown. Enjoy. Includes a special 'bonus shot' taken in Eddy Avenue.

Fleet No 7030

The Driver Training Vehicle.

Route : Driver Training

📍 Slough Bus Station

BERND MAYLÄNDER

Personal Information

Born - 29.05.1971

Height - 1.80 m

Weight - 78 kg

Profession - Race Driver

Sports Career

1988 / 1989 - Karting Sport

1990 - Porsche Clubsport

1991 - Int. Formula Ford 1600 Championship, Int. Porsche Long Distance Trophy: 1st place, 24h Nürburgring: 9th place

1992 - Porsche Carrera Cup: 12th place

1993 - Porsche Carrera Cup: 3rd place, 24 Hours Nürburgring: 4th place, 500 km Nürburgring: 1st place

1994 - Porsche Carrera Cup: 1st place, Porsche Supercup: 4th place, 24 Hours Daytona: 4th place, Junior Driver of the Year 1994

1995 - DTM / ITC (AMG Mercedes C-Class), 24 Hours Daytona: 4th place

1996 - DTM / ITC (AMG Mercedes C-Class)

1997 - FIA GT: 1st place A1-Ring (Mercedes CLK GTR), FIA GT: 2nd place Suzuka (Mercedes CLK GTR)

1998 - FIA GT: 4th place Dijon (Mercedes CLK GTR), FIA GT: 4th place Suzuka (Mercedes CLK GTR)

1999 - Porsche Supercup: 6th place, Porsche Carrera Cup: 4th place, 24 Hours Le Mans with Porsche GT3 R, Official Formula 3000 Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG)

2000 - Porsche Supercup: 2nd place overall standings, 24 Hours Nürburgring: 1st place overall standings, Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG)

2001 - DTM with AMG Mercedes, Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG)

2002 - DTM with OASE AMG Mercedes Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver, (Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG)

2003 - DTM with Mercedes-Benz Originalteile, Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG)

2004 - DTM with Mercedes Gebrauchtwagen, Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG)

2005 - Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG), Representative of Mercedes-AMG, Guest Driver on Porsche Supercup Bahrain, Guest Driver on Porsche Carrera Cup

2006 - Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG), Representative of Mercedes-AMG

2007 - Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG), Representative of Mercedes-AMG

2008 - Official Formula One World Championship Safety Car Driver (Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG), Representative of Mercedes-AMG

On Driver Training duties in Bedford

Fleet No 2611

National Risk and Resilience Department's off road training vehicle - Defender Station Wagon TD5. Also used as an addition to the remote / difficult access SORT Defenders.

North Notts Training Group Ltd. Worksop. Notts. JWA888J

A E C Reliance 6U3ZR / Plaxton C51F.

I don't know too much else about this. The picture came into my possession about 2 years ago. North Notts Training Group Ltd. ceased trading in the Spring of 1990.

As it is in the company of other Buses I guess it was photographed at a Rally, unless somebody out there in Flicker-land knows anything else .

Other than to say someone took a fine shot of an A E C Reliance /Plaxton

Go North West "Bee Network" LG23FBO 2002 seen leaving Bolton Interchange on driver training duties

Earlier on the same holiday, I'd photographed this original type Southdown Queen Mary' 2880 CD. The window layout on these, whilst you couldn't describe as being conventional, was more so than the 'leaf green' example I posted yesterday. The spacings on these bodies were similar to those on an a lengthened Routemaster with a short additional centre bay. The shot was taken in Brighton, the bus was serving as a driver trainer... at the risk of stating the obvious(!). Driver Training and open top fleets were traditional repositories for the older time served buses.

GB Railfreight Class 73 Nos. 73213 'Rhodalyn' and 73128 'OVS Bullied CBE' pass Gillingham Depot working the 4Z61 10:59 Ramsgate to Rochester loaded train driver training movement.

This driver training movement made a circuit journey of Kent working as –

4Z60 09:04 Tonbridge West Yard to Ramsgate

4Z61 10:59 Ramsgate to Rochester

4Z62 12:45 Rochester to Tonbridge West Yard.

Merseyside Police

Driver Training

Roof Code: 874

Role: Driver Training Vehicle

Make: Kia Sportage GT Line

Station: Lea Green

Note: PSU Bronze & PSU TacAd

Trainees take to the tracks!

Late afternoon in Moore Park and trainee drivers are put through their paces between Darley and Lang Roads. Here four coupled sets of Citadis X05s, their trainees drivers and their mentors were captured at the new Kensington Junction.

I spent and hour or so in the city on 31 October moving along George Street between Wynyard and Circular Quay. Tram testing and trailing, driver training and certification continues in earnest. Here's a record of the visit.

Borders Buses 11204 YX61 ELW In Marygate Berwick Upon Tweed On Driver Training

Trainees take to the tracks!

Late afternoon in Moore Park and trainee drivers are put through their paces between Darley and Lang Roads. Here four coupled sets of Citadis X05s, their trainees drivers and their mentors were captured at the new Kensington Junction.

DT V.I.P BMW

At Surry Hills …

Shots taken at Surry Hills on the afternoon on 20 September. You could be forgiven if you thought the line was open such was the frequency of trams. Testing, training and route familiarisation continues

TransPennine Express 397001 seen at Liverpool Lime Street on Driver Training runs

The trams turn into Devonshire Street, heading for Moore Park and Randwick

London transport 2RT2 RT94 seeing out it's days with LT on driver training duties somewhere in North London, the RM behind is from Finchley garage. Uncredited photo from collection.

Opening the taps as it departs from Bescot Up & Down Goods, Locomotive Services Ltd no. D1944/47501 "Craftsman" rejoins the main line from Bescot to Wolverhampton as it works 5Z72, the 1245 training run back to Crewe Holding Sidings via the Welsh Marches Line & Chester.

twitter.com/keltruck/status/1221478967741468674

#Scania driver training for #ACServices on their new P410 @TarmacLtd #tipper #SuppliedByKeltruck 's Russ Kelly.

#ACServicesBanbury #Banbury #Oxfordshire #Oxon #OX15 #ScaniaTippers #tippers #payload #SaveOnFuel

👏 @jarrodV8730 keltruckscania.com/drivertraining

I spent and hour or so in the city on 31 October moving along George Street between Wynyard and Circular Quay. Tram testing and trailing, driver training and certification continues in earnest. Here's a record of the visit.

Bratislava Public Transport Company Tatra ČKD T3SUCS driver training tramcars 8137 and 8135. Here seen in the Old Town of Bratislava (Slovakia) in November 2012.

Preserved West Riding 252, Leyland Lynx Mk1 - Seen at Dewsbury Bus Museum 16/11/2014

413DCD 52619

Jonckheere Mistral Volvo B10M

Stagecoach Southdown

At Surry Hills …

Shots taken at Surry Hills on the afternoon on 20 September. You could be forgiven if you thought the line was open such was the frequency of trams. Testing, training and route familiarisation continues